Pin type cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A plurality of spring loaded pins is held in a main block which is moved up and down by an eccentric. The base is apertured to receive the pins and if the base is placed on a surface and the block is reciprocated, the pins protrude from the base and retract therein as the reciprocation occurs. If used on a screen type surface, the pins clean the apertures in the screen. The device can also be adapted for use in aerating lawns and the like.

United States Patent [191 Sawatzky PIN TYPE CLEANING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Gerhard Sawatzky, 83 Sterling Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada [22] Filed: July 21, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 274,065

[52] US. Cl 15/3, 172/21, 172/101 [51] Int. Cl. B08b 11/00, AOlb 45/02 [58] Field of Search 15/3, 382; 172/21, 101

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,789,492 4/1957 Macke 172/101 X 3,163,236 12/1964 Ray 172/101 X 3,490,540 1/1970 West et a1.... 172/21 [451 Apr. 16, 1974 Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stanley G. Ade

[5 7] ABSTRACT A plurality of spring loaded pins is held in a main block which is moved up and down by an eccentric. The base is apertured to receive the pins and if the base is placed on a surface and the block is reciprocated, the pins protrude from the base and retract therein as the reciprocation occurs. If used on a screen type surface, the pins clean the apertures in the screen. The device can also be adapted for use in aerating lawns and the like.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 161974 v 3803.659 sum 1 or 2 IO 25 u 3 3| 32 2'35 l5 l3 l5 i 1 3| FIG. I {I l W 5"" L, A L? jg] 5o H5115 A FIG. 3

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C C C C C C C C(CCC o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o w o o 0 o o o o o o 0 o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o 0 Q 0 o o o o o ww 0 o o o o o o o o 0 0 o o o o 0 o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o 0 0 o o o o o o o m o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o 0 o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 o o o o o o o o o o :PATENTEUAPR 16 I974 PIN TYPE CLEANING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for cleaning screens. In the treatment and handling of barley and malt and the like, the grain is poured from one screened floor to the other for drying purposes. These floors are sloping and the apertures therein often become clogged due to the relatively large sugar content and the apertures within the screen floors are extremely difficult to clean.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present device may be moved accross a screened floor so that the apertures therein are cleaned rapidly and easily.

The principal object and essence of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which may be wheeled across a screen floor so that impurities in the floor may be cleaned rapidly and easily.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which enables a great deal of time to be saved in the floor cleaning operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the cleaning pins are spring loaded so that if a pin does not hit an aperture, the pin is not damaged inasmuch as the spring prevents the pin from being bent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which a source of power reciprocates a main block carrying a plurality of pins. The pins extend through an apertured base plate and are extended and retracted as the reciprocation occurs so that if the device is moved across a screened floor, the pins extend into the holes or apertures within the screened floor cleaning any debris therefrom. i

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the considerations and inventive objects herein set forth in view,'and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features asmay become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, herein exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept; reference being had to the accompanying Figures in which:

DESCRIPTION'OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation of the device reduced in scale with reference to the remainder of the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a'n-enlargedend elevation of the main block assembly and base plate.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of FIG. 3 but including the crank arm assembly.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the main block per se.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the retainer plate per se.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the base plate per se.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character 10 illustrates generally a supporting framework consisting of a pair of substantially rectangular sides 11, upper members 12, lower members 13 and cross members 14.

Four ground engaging wheels 15 are journalled for rotation on the underside of the supporting framework, one adjacent each corner thereof, and a handle assembly 16 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the supporting frame 10 so that the device may be wheeled manually.

A source of power taking the form of electric motor 17 is mounted within the framework and connected to a source of electrical energy (not illustrated). A main shaft 17' is journalled for rotation upon the upper side of the supporting framework, within block bearings 18 and a pulley 19 is secured to this shaft. A belt 20 extends around this pulley and around pulley 21 secured to the main shaft 22 of the electric motor 17 so that shaft 17- is rotated by the electric motor.

The cleaning assembly collectively designated 23 is mounted upon the front end of the supporting framework 10. Y

A plurality of bearings 24 are secured to the front of the supporting framework and a pair of actuating rods 25 are journalled for vertical reciprocation within these bearings 24 as clearly shown in FIG. 4.

A cross member 26 connects the two actuating rods 25 together and a crank arm 27 is pivotally secured to a journal pin 28 extending from the connecting member 26. The upper end of the crank arm is bearably supported upon an offset pin or shaft 28, offset from the aforementioned main shaft 17- so that rotary motion of shaft l7-'is transferred to vertical reciprocating motion of the actuating rods 25 in the usual manner.

A multi-apertured substantially rectangular base plate 29 rests upon the surface to be cleaned (not illustrated) and is provided with a plurality of dowels 30 extending upwardly therefrom there being four such dowels in the present embodiment, one adjacent each corner of the base plate 29. The main block assembly collectively designated 31 is also provided with apertures adjacent the corners thereof thus mounting the main block assembly upon the dowel 30 for vertical reciprocation relative thereto. Securing nuts 32 and lock nuts 33 engage the screw threaded upper ends 34 of the dowels thus retaining the main block assembly upon the dowels but permitting same to reciprocate within the limits defined by the underside of the main fastening nuts 32 and the upper side 35 of the base plate 29, said reciprocation being caused by the aforementioned crank arm 27. Springs 30A react between the main block assembly 31 and the base plate 29 to withdraw the pins 52 from below the base plate.

The main block assembly includes a pair of spaced and parallel upwardly extending portions 36 and mounting pins 37 extend between these portions 36 upon which the lower ends of the actuating rods 25 are journalled as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The journalls 38 engaged upon the pins 37, are provided with screw fitted upper ends 39 and screw threaded dowel pins 40 engage these upper ends. The other ends of the dowels 40 engage within bores in the lower ends of the actuating rods 25 and are retained therein by means of cotter pins 41.

The main block assembly 31 is provided with a plurality of blind bores 42 opening out onto the lower side 43 thereof.

A plurality of pins collectively designated 44 are provided, there being one pin to each bore and each of these pins includes an upper stem portion 45, a lower stem-portion 46 and a flanged collar portion 47 between the stems 45 and 46. The upper stem 45 engages the bore 42 and acompression spring 48 surrounds the stem 45 within the bore andreacts between the upper side 49 of the bore and the collar 47 thus biassing the pin 44 downwardly towards the base plate 2 9.

The pins and springs are retained within the main block assemblyby the provision of an apertured retainer plate :50' which is secured to the underside 43 of the main block assembly by means of securing screws 51 shown in phantom in FIG. 3, it being understood that the lower stems46 of the pins extend through the apertures within the retaining plate and into the apertures 52'formed through the base plate 29.

When in the uppermost position as illustrated in FIG. 4, the lower ends of the lower stems 46 of the pins 44 are flush with the underside S3 of the base plate but as the actuating rods 25 reciprocate, these pins are extended or protruded through the base plate and extend by the amQunt of the eccentricity of the offset pin 28 with the main shaft 17-.

In operation, the device is wheeled across the screened floor to be cleaned (not illustrated) with the power connected to the electric motor 17 thus causing the actuating rods 25 to reciprocate rapidly and to alternately extend and retract pins '46. As these pins engage over apertures within the screened floor, the pins clear out these apertures rapidly and easily. In the to illustrate such'concept and is not for the purpose of limiting protection to any herein particularly described embodiment thereof.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A cleaning device comprising in combination with a supporting framework and a source of power, a main block assembly and a multi-apertured base plate, means mounting said main block assembly for reciprocation relative to said base plate, means operatively connecting said main block assembly to said source of power for reciprocating said main block assembly, and a plurality of pins mounted in said block assembly and extending into the apertures in said base plate whereby reciprocation of said main block assembly protrudes and retracts said pins relative to said base plate, said main block assembly including a plurality of bores therein, an apertured retainer plate spanning the base of said main block assembly, said pins engaging the apertures in said retainer plate and compression springs in said bores reacting between said main block assembly and said pins normally biasing said pins in the direction of said base plate.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which the compression strength of said compression springs is such that obstructions below said base plate greater than the compression strength of the springs of the said spring loaded pins, will prevent said pins from protruding through said base plate and obstructions lesser than the compression strength of the springs in said spring loaded pins will be pierced or removed by said pins.

3. The device according to claim 2 in which said pins each include an upper stem in said bore and a lower stem extending through said retainer plate and into said base plate, and a collar situated between said stems, said springs each engaging said collars by one end thereof and the upper ends of said bores, by the other ends thereof.

4. The device according to claim 2 in which said means mounting said main block assembly includes a plurality of dowels secured to said base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said main bore assembly event that one or more of thepins hit the material of the floor between apertures, then the spring 48 merely compresses so that the pin 46 is'not damaged. When in the uppermost position the base plate clears the screen surface so that themachine can be wheeled as it operates. l

' The strength of the spring is such that normal obstructions within the apertures of a screen floor are picked or cleaned out by the extending pins but if a pin hits a .solid object such as the material between the ap ertures in the screen floor then the spring compresses.

- It is of course obvious that the device canreadily be adapted for use for other purposes such as lawn aerabeing apertured and engaging said dowels for reciprocation therefrom.

5. The device according to claim 4 in which said means operatively connecting said main block assembly to said source of power for reciprocation includes a pair of actuating rods pivotally secured by one end thereof to said main block assembly, bearings mounted in said framework, said actuating rods being supported for reciprocation in said bearings, means connecting the said actuating rodstogether for mutual reciprocation, and a crank arm operated by said source of power and pivotally connected to said last mentioned means.

6. The device according to claim 1 in which said pins each include an upper stem in said bore and a lower stern extending through said retainer plate and into said base plate, and a collar situated between said stems, said springs each engaging said collars by one end thereof and the upper ends of said bores, by the other ends thereof. I

7. The device according to claim 6 in which said means mounting said main block assembly includes a plurality of dowels secured to said base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said main bore assembly being apertured and engaging said dowels for reciprocation therefrom.

8. The device according to claim 7 in which said means operatively connecting said main block assembly to said source of power for reciprocation includes a pair of actuating rods pivotally secured by one end thereof to said main block assembly, bearings mounted in said framework, said actuating rods being supported for reciprocation in said bearings, means connecting the said actuating rods together for mutual reciprocation, and a crank arm operated by said source of power and pivotally connected to said last mentioned means.

9. The device according to claim 1 in which said means mounting said main block assembly includes a plurality of dowels secured to said base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said main bore assembly 

1. A cleaning device comprising in combination with a supporting framework and a source of power, a main block assembly and a multi-apertured base plate, means mounting said main block assembly for reciprocation relative to said base plate, means operatively connecting said main block assembly to said source of power for reciprocating said main block assembly, and a plurality of pins mounted in said block assembly and extending into the apertures in said base plate whereby reciprocation of said main block assembly protrudes and retracts said pins relative to said base plate, said main block assembly including a plurality of bores therein, an apertured retainer plate spanning the base of said main block assembly, said pins engaging the apertures in said retainer plate and compression springs in said bores reacting between said main block assembly and said pins normally biasing said pins in the direction of said base plate.
 2. The device according to claim 1 in which the compression strength of said compression springs is such that obstructions below said base plate greater than the compression strength of the springs of the said spring loaded pins, will prevent said pins from protruding through said base plate and obstructions lesser than the compression strength of the springs in said spring loaded pins will be pierced or removed by said pins.
 3. The device according to claim 2 in which said pins each include an upper stem in saId bore and a lower stem extending through said retainer plate and into said base plate, and a collar situated between said stems, said springs each engaging said collars by one end thereof and the upper ends of said bores, by the other ends thereof.
 4. The device according to claim 2 in which said means mounting said main block assembly includes a plurality of dowels secured to said base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said main bore assembly being apertured and engaging said dowels for reciprocation therefrom.
 5. The device according to claim 4 in which said means operatively connecting said main block assembly to said source of power for reciprocation includes a pair of actuating rods pivotally secured by one end thereof to said main block assembly, bearings mounted in said framework, said actuating rods being supported for reciprocation in said bearings, means connecting the said actuating rods together for mutual reciprocation, and a crank arm operated by said source of power and pivotally connected to said last mentioned means.
 6. The device according to claim 1 in which said pins each include an upper stem in said bore and a lower stem extending through said retainer plate and into said base plate, and a collar situated between said stems, said springs each engaging said collars by one end thereof and the upper ends of said bores, by the other ends thereof.
 7. The device according to claim 6 in which said means mounting said main block assembly includes a plurality of dowels secured to said base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said main bore assembly being apertured and engaging said dowels for reciprocation therefrom.
 8. The device according to claim 7 in which said means operatively connecting said main block assembly to said source of power for reciprocation includes a pair of actuating rods pivotally secured by one end thereof to said main block assembly, bearings mounted in said framework, said actuating rods being supported for reciprocation in said bearings, means connecting the said actuating rods together for mutual reciprocation, and a crank arm operated by said source of power and pivotally connected to said last mentioned means.
 9. The device according to claim 1 in which said means mounting said main block assembly includes a plurality of dowels secured to said base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said main bore assembly being apertured and engaging said dowels for reciprocation therefrom.
 10. The device according to claim 9 in which said means operatively connecting said main block assembly to said source of power for reciprocation includes a pair of actuating rods pivotally secured by one end thereof to said main block assembly, bearings mounted in said framework, said actuating rods being supported for reciprocation in said bearings, means connecting the said actuating rods together for mutual reciprocation, and a crank arm operated by said source of power and pivotally connected to said last mentioned means. 